Wireless communications device with concealed value
A wireless communication device is disclosed. The wireless communication device has a near field communications transmitter system. The device has an outer chassis that can be sized, dimensioned and decorated to resemble common household items that lack any apparent value. The wireless communication device can also include an indicia that is invisible to an unaided human eye.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/369,950, filed on Mar. 29, 2019 and titled “Wireless Communications Device with Concealed Value”, which application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/753,538 filed Oct. 31, 2018, and titled “Wireless Communications Device with Concealed Value,” the disclosures of which applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure generally relates to wireless devices, and in particular, to near field communications devices having a concealment feature.
BACKGROUNDCash and credit cards, while convenient can also have drawbacks. Their obvious apparent value can result in theft. This is particularly a problem for the homeless and individuals that reside in shared housing. These individuals have no safe place to store their valuables. Because of this, they are required to carry all of their possessions, including cash, credit cards, and gift cards on their person at all times. This creates a potentially dangerous situation. There is a need in the art for a new solution that addresses these shortcomings.
SUMMARYIn one aspect, a wireless communication device that is capable of conducting contactless communications and transactions is provided. The wireless communications device can also include provisions to store information, including information related to an account, a balance, or a value. The device has an outer chassis including an interior cavity that is sized and dimensioned to retain the near field communications transmitter system. The outer chassis can also have an exterior surface defining an exterior shape. This exterior shape of the outer chassis can be generally cylindrical.
In another aspect, the wireless communication device can be sized, dimensioned and decorated to resemble common household items that lack any apparent value.
In another aspect, the wireless communication device includes an outer chassis including an interior cavity that is sized and dimensioned to retain a near field communications transmitter system. The outer chassis has an exterior surface, and the exterior surface includes an indicia that is invisible to an unaided human eye.
In another aspect, the indicia reflects a wavelength of light in the infrared spectrum.
In another aspect, the wireless communication device consists essentially of the near field communications transmitter system and no other electronic components.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the disclosure, and be protected by the following claims.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
Different embodiments of the invention provide a device to give the user the ability to securely carry and retain accessible funds. Unlike a normal form of payment, like a credit card, a debit card, or cash, various embodiments of the device may not appear to have apparent value. In fact, different embodiments may appear to be common everyday items that lack apparent value. This adds a level of discreetness and protection for the user. The device can help to reduce theft by concealing the true value of the device. Some embodiments of the device may include provisions for locating the device if it is lost or misplaced.
The embodiments may use any form of contactless communication technology. Contactless communication technology may include any known method including the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID), near field communication (NFC), WiFi, Bluetooth, and other similar wireless protocols. In some cases, the device may be configured to provide payment via interaction with an NFC reader or NFC tags programmed with secured payment information.
Referring to
In addition to having an overall geometric shape, some embodiments of item 100 can appear similar to common real life objects. This can be accomplished by modifying, decorating or coloring a geometric shape so that the item 100 attains a shape and size similar to common everyday items. In some embodiments, item 100 attempts to mimic real life objects. Preferably, item 100 can be configured to be portable and small, so that item 100 can be easily carried by a user.
Referring to
Referring to
Some embodiments of item 100 may take the form of a writing instrument. Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Preferably, various configurations of item 100, as shown in
Near field communication transmitter system 1004 can be disposed externally, internally or in any suitable location with respect to item 100. In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
Some embodiments can include provisions to securely identify item 100. Generally, an identification mark for item 100 can be either difficult to detect or is invisible to unassisted human vision. In some embodiments, identification mark 1406 can take the form of a reflective indicia that reflects wavelengths of light that are undetectable to the unassisted human eye. Any suitable wavelength of light beyond unassisted human vision may be used. In some embodiments the indicia can reflect wavelengths of light in the infrared spectrum that would not be detectable to the naked eye.
In the embodiment shown in
This identification feature can assist users who have lost or misplaced item 100. Because of the nature of item 100, an apparently worthless item, it would be possible that a misplaced item 100 may be discarded or disposed by individuals who are unaware of the true value of item 100. This kind of identification feature can help owners of item 100 to distinguish between unique items that include a near field communication transmitter system and common every day items with little value. This identification feature can also help users conduct searches for their unique items without revealing the concealed value of their item to bystanders.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting, and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the attached claims.
Claims
1. A system comprising:
- a set of two or more items that have a substantially similar geometric shape, size, and appearance;
- wherein a first item of the set of two or more items is a real life object that lacks apparent value and is functional for an intended purpose; and
- wherein a second item of the set of two or more items is a wireless communication device that appears visually identical to the first item, but which is not functional for the intended purpose of the first item, the second item comprising: a contactless communications system configured to conduct contactless transactions for payment; the contactless communications system including a memory configured to store payment information, including payment information related to an account, a balance, or a value; an outer chassis including an interior cavity sized and dimensioned to retain the contactless communications system; the outer chassis having an exterior surface defining an exterior shape that is substantially similar to an exterior shape of the first item; and wherein the exterior surface is decorated so as to mimic the first item.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of the outer chassis is formed of a first material and a second material, wherein the first material is different than the second material.
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the first material includes a metal and wherein the second material includes a non-metallic material.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first item is an actual bottle cap functional for an intended purpose of sealing a bottle; and
- wherein the exterior shape of the outer chassis of the second item is sized and configured to resemble a bottle cap, but which is not functional to seal a bottle.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first item is an actual writing instrument functional for an intended purpose of writing; and
- wherein the exterior shape of the outer chassis of the second item is sized and configured to resemble a writing instrument, but which is not functional for writing.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of the outer chassis of the second item includes an indicia that is invisible to an unaided human eye.
7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising eyewear configured to detect wavelengths of light that are generally not visible to the unaided human eye; and
- wherein the indicia on the exterior surface of the outer chassis of the second item is visible with the eyewear.
8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first item lacks an indicia that is invisible to an unaided human eye.
9. The system according to claim 8, wherein only the indicia on the second item in the set of two or more items that have a substantially similar geometric shape, size, and appearance is visible with the eyewear.
10. The system according to claim 6, wherein the indicia reflects a wavelength of light in the infrared spectrum.
11. A method of constructing a wireless communication device that mimics a real life object that lacks apparent value and is functional for an intended purpose, comprising:
- providing a contactless communications system configured to conduct contactless transactions for payment; the contactless communications system including a memory configured to store payment information, including payment information related to an account, a balance, or a value;
- forming an outer chassis having an exterior surface defining an exterior shape that is sized and configured so as to be similar in size and shape to the real life object that lacks apparent value, but which outer chassis is not functional for the intended purpose of the real life object;
- providing an interior cavity within the outer chassis, the interior cavity being sized and dimensioned to retain the contactless communications system; and
- decorating the exterior surface so as to mimic the real life object that lacks apparent value to appear visually identical to the real life object but which does not function for the intended purpose of the real life object.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the real life object that lacks apparent value is an actual writing instrument functional for an intended purpose of writing; and
- wherein the method comprises decorating the exterior surface of the wireless communication device to resemble an appearance of the actual writing instrument, but which is not functional for writing.
13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the real life object that lacks apparent value is an actual bottle cap functional for an intended purpose of sealing a bottle; and
- wherein the method comprises decorating the exterior surface of the wireless communication device to resemble an appearance of the actual bottle cap, but which is not functional to seal a bottle.
14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
- marking the exterior surface of the wireless communication device with an indicia that is invisible to an unaided human eye.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the wireless communication device appears identical to the object that lacks apparent value to an unaided human eye; and
- wherein the indicia on the wireless communication device is only visible using eyewear configured to detect wavelengths of light that are generally not visible to the unaided human eye so as to distinguish the wireless communication device from the object that lacks apparent value.
16. A method of identifying a wireless communication device from a set of two or more items that have a substantially similar geometric shape, size, and appearance, comprising:
- providing a first item in the set of two or more items that is a real life object that lacks apparent value and is functional for an intended purpose;
- providing a second item in the set of two or more items that is the wireless communication device that appears visually identical to the first item, but which is not functional for the intended purpose of the first item;
- providing the second item that is the wireless communication device with an outer chassis having an exterior surface defining an exterior shape that is sized and configured so as to be similar in size and shape to the first item that is the real life object that lacks apparent value;
- marking the exterior surface of the second item that is the wireless communication device with an indicia that is invisible to an unaided human eye;
- using eyewear configured to detect wavelengths of light that are generally not visible to the unaided human eye to identify the second item that is the wireless communication device from the first item that is the real life object that lacks apparent value when the first item and the second item are viewed together.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the indicia reflects a wavelength of light in the infrared spectrum.
18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second item that is the wireless communication device appears visually identical to the first item that is the real life object that lacks apparent value to an unaided human eye.
19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first item that is the real life object that lacks apparent value is an actual writing instrument functional for an intended purpose of writing; and
- wherein the exterior surface of the second item that is the wireless communication device is decorated to resemble an appearance of the actual writing instrument, but which is not functional for writing.
20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first item that is the real life object that lacks apparent value is an actual bottle cap functional for an intended purpose of sealing a bottle; and
- wherein the exterior surface of the second item that is the wireless communication device is decorated to resemble an appearance of the actual bottle cap, but which is not functional to seal a bottle.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 23, 2020
Date of Patent: Jun 14, 2022
Patent Publication Number: 20210044010
Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA) (San Antonio, TX)
Inventor: Ruthie D. Lyle (Durham, NC)
Primary Examiner: Thien M Le
Application Number: 17/078,680
International Classification: G06K 19/06 (20060101); G06K 19/07 (20060101); H01Q 1/44 (20060101); H04B 5/00 (20060101);